May 15, 2025
www.gfb.org
Vol. 7 No. 10
USDA LAYS OUT $21 BILLION IN DISASTER ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS TIMELINE On May 7, the USDA announced plans to expedite $21 billion in disaster assistance to farmers who suffered ag-related losses from recent natural disasters. The USDA launched a web page detailing the projected timeline for supplemental disaster assistance. The Disaster Assistance Program Timeline: Emergency Livestock Relief Program – Drought/Wildfire May 23 – Release to Federal Register for publication May 28 – Final rule on public display May 29 – Payment processing on Thursday night May 30 – County offices sign and certify payments Supplemental Disaster Relief Program – Previously Indemnified Loss June 30 – Release to Federal Register for Publication July 3 – Final rule on public display July 7 – SDRP sign-up begins General Block Grant Authority USDA is using general block grant authority to pay on losses due to adverse weather events for 2023 and 2024. General block grants will not duplicate assistance for which USDA covers a similar loss. As of May 15, USDA has received general block grant requests from Georgia, Alabama, California, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. These are agreements between the states and USDA.\ June 13 - Fully executed agreement complete (for states with a final negotiated agreement by 5/28/25) June 30 - Fully executed agreement complete (for states with a final negotiated agreement by 6/13/25) Emergency Livestock Relief Program – Flooding includes Commodity Loss Assistance Program, Milk Loss Program – Combined Final Rule Aug. 13 – Sent to Federal Register for Publication Aug. 15 – Final Rule on public display Aug. 18 – ELRP flooding, Commodity Loss Assistance and Milk Loss – sign up begins -continued on next page